The Sporting-Manchester City halftime had reached 1-1 on the scoreboard, but with clear ascendancy on the part of the visitors. Foden’s early goal caused discomfort in Alvalade, who believed again with Gyökeres’ 1-1. However, the several opportunities that came to Haaland’s boots meant a serious warning for the restart.
But, as soon as the second half started, the lions started 185 seconds of the most brilliant that the Alvalade club has ever experienced in European competitions. Between minutes 45:00 and 48:05, Sporting experienced three minutes and five seconds of euphoria, seeming to be possessed by some spell, immersed in the mission of giving the best possible farewell to the best green and white coach of the last 70 years.
Resumption order given. Gyökeres passed to Hjulmand, the captain passed to Morita, the Japanese player delayed to Diomande, the big man from Côte d’Ivoire passed to Matheus Reis. The reliable left-hander advanced to Pedro Gonçalves, the creative and inventive Pote. The Trás-os-Montes native would start a dance with a Uruguayan towards 2-1.
Pote passed to Maxi Araújo, in one of the 15 successful passes — out of 15 attempted, 100% correct — that he made. Maxi returned it to Pote, who danced away from Kovacic. The Portuguese waited, used time as a feint and, at the right moment, isolated Araújo. Look at Ederson, strong shot, 2-1.
In less than 20 seconds in which City’s only touch of the ball was Ederson’s failed attempt to save the shot, the national champions launched the second half on a completely different basis to the doubts and mistakes of the first half. But the tsunami of the lions would not stop there.
